Boy Scouts Reach Million Dollar Settlement With Tens of Thousands Of Sex Abuse Victims

By Emily R. Siegel - NBC News

Tens of thousands of people who say they were sexually abused as scouts and who filed a lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of the United States (BSA) have

settled $ 850 million

, the largest in an abuse case. Sexual Childhood in American History.

More than 84,000 people are part of the lawsuit against the 110-year-old organization, which has been

plagued with allegations of abuse

by volunteers and leaders

since the 1960s

.

The Boy Scouts of America filed for

bankruptcy

last year as they faced mounting legal costs to defend themselves against complaints.

Ken Rothweiler, an attorney with the Eisenberg Rothweiler law firm in Philadelphia, which represents the largest group of plaintiffs - more than 16,800 people - says this settlement is a

start

.

The insurance rights of the last 40 years will be put into a trust that will control the group of survivors and that could amount to billions more for the victims.

They denounce alarming cases of sexual abuse within the "Boy Scouts"

Aug. 7, 201903: 39

"I am pleased that both the BSA and its local councils have stepped forward to be the first to compensate survivors," Rothweiler said in a statement Thursday.

"We will now negotiate with insurers and sponsoring organizations that have billions of dollars in legal exposure, of which a substantial portion is needed to fairly compensate survivors," he added.

According to Rothweiler, most of his clients are between the ages of

60 and 70,

and the abuse occurred when they were

teenagers.

[The girls arrive at the Boy Scouts and the organization changes its name]

"I am pleased that the organization is taking responsibility for the sexual abuse that happened to me and others we have had to live with for decades," said a 65-year-old victim who lives in the New York area.

"This recognition from the Boy Scouts

will start the healing process

for many of us who have suffered," he added.

The Boy Scouts called the deal, which was detailed in court documents Thursday, as an

important step.

"There is still a long way to go to get the Court's approval to ask survivors to vote for the BSA's amended Reorganization Plan. However, with this encouraging and significant step forward, the BSA wholeheartedly commits to working for a global resolution. Our intention is to seek confirmation of the plan this summer and emerge from bankruptcy later this year, "the organization said in a statement.

[Kisses, touching, rapes ... Thousands of immigrant minors report sexual abuse after being detained]

Last year, when it filed for bankruptcy protection, a spokesperson for the organization said it had two key goals: "to compensate equally the victims who were harmed during their tenure with the Boys Scouts and to continue to carry out their mission in the coming years. years".

"We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuses in Scouting and touched by the courage of those who have come to light," the Boy Scouts previously said.

"Our hearts are broken by not being able to undo their pain."

The Boy Scouts leadership has insisted that

Scouting "is safer now than ever"

and that 90% of complaints against the organization "occurred more than 30 years ago."

[They sue the Vatican in the case of sexual abuse of a Hispanic pastor]

"From mandatory youth protection training and background checks of all volunteers and staff, to policies that prohibit one-on-one interaction between youth and adults and require that any suspected abuse be reported to the authorities,

our volunteers and employees take the protection of young people very seriously

and do their part to help keep children safe, "wrote the management last year, in a statement addressed to the" Scout Family ".